Articles from GBE Friends

You've always dreamed about starting your own day care business. The perfect situation which allows you to be with your kids whilst bringing in much needed money and being your own boss. But due to fear of the unknown you haven't done so. You're afraid to take that risk.

My advice to you is remove the fear. Get a taster of the childcare business first and see if it is a profession you would enjoy. Immerse yourself in this environment for research purposes. Get a job or offer your services at a day care. Try to find one that will allow you to bring your children with you or get a kindly family member to help out while you are researching. Do whatever it takes get the time off work. Remember, this is your future you are planning.

Observation and practical application is great for figuring out what works and what doesn't. Plus there is nothing like on the ground experience to figure out your suitability for a particular profession. You can learn so much from an existing daycare that could save you a lot of time and effort in the future. They've already made the mistakes so you don't have to.

Become a sponge in your research phase soaking up every jot of information. Be sure and take notes whenever you get a break or immediately after you get home while the details are still fresh in your mind. Oogle all paperwork, policies and procedures every chance you get. There'll be a lot so just try to remember key points for now. Try to see the bigger picture and how it all fits together to facilitate the smooth running of the operation.

Ask lots of questions particularly of the senior, experienced staff and the owner. Observe how they work, their methods of interaction with children, parents and other staff. Try to identify different staff roles e.g. does each room have a keyworker and assistants? How is the team dynamic and could it be improved? Hone in on any behavioural problems and notice what is the procedure for dealing with same. Note what you consider to be weaknesses and use that knowledge to your advantage as a lesson in what not to do.

Effective systems, policies and procedures enable a business to run smoothly and give management and staff structure and direction. The same applies to day care, once you remove the fear of the unknown by immersing yourself in the daily operations of a day care all the pieces will come together in your head enabling you to get beyond the fear to a more confident and constructive place. Throwing yourself in at the deep end, observing all the nuts and bolts of a day care business will give you an invaluable insight into your own suitability for this profession.

This is an excellent way to discover if you would thrive in a child care business and it is very important to figure this out before you start. You will need to love it because, like any business, there will be tough times and your passion is what will carry you through to success. Get researching!

10 years of running a daycare leaves Fiona Lohrenz with a lot of knowledge to impart. This she does on her website plus on her 'Start a ChildCare Business' DVD guide: StartChildCare.com You can find her at her website: ChildCareOnly.com